HOSPITALS across Ireland are braced for another surge in patients attending their emergency departments due to weather warning cancellations and ongoing flu infection spike.
Many hospitals are facing a massive backlog of thousands of cancelled appointments after the harsh freezing conditions caused chaos across the country.
And many healthcare settings are currently experiencing pressure due to the ongoing flu infection spike, as over 3,300 cases were recorded within the first week of January.
According to the HSE, 748 people in hospitals nationwide were being treated for influenza on January 7.
During the cold snap, the affected counties were forced to cancel non-urgent appointments, such as outpatient and other clinical appointments.
The HSE wanted to prioritise the patients’ and staff’s safety during the weather mayhem according to the guidelines provided by the Government and Met Eireann.
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However, as the harsh weather conditions start to dial down and mild weather conditions return, many hospitals have resumed their operations for non-urgent appointments.
Dr Catherine Peters, the Regional Clinical Director of HSE Mid West, said: “We expect to see an increase in demand for health services over the coming days.
“This comes at a time when our acute hospitals are already seeing an increase in trauma cases associated with the winter conditions as well as a surge in influenza, with almost one in every 10 inpatient beds in University Hospital Limerick currently occupied by flu patients.
“We are grateful to the Defence Forces and to all of the voluntary agencies who assisted with transporting staff and in ensuring patients continued to access time-critical appointments.
“As we return to normal, we are appealing to members of the public to choose the right care option and ensure that the emergency department is kept for the most seriously injured or unwell patients who need it most.
“For medical emergencies, please attend the emergency department.”
However, a spokesperson stated that if hazardous conditions remain in the area, they ask that patients do not travel to their appointments where it is unsafe for them to do so.
If you’re feeling unwell, you should consider all of your healthcare alternatives, such as your doctor, local pharmacies, or the after-hours GP service.
In the Midwest, many general practitioners’ offices provide longer hours – to check availability and services in your area, please contact your general practitioner.
Patients can contact their service, and a new appointment will be arranged for them as soon as possible, as they are in the process of prioritising the cancelled appointments in the coming weeks.
Patients whose appointments were cancelled earlier this week in Cork and Kerry will be called to reschedule, according to a spokesman for hospitals in the southwest.
The HSE said: “Cork University Hospital (CUH) is working to ensure all affected patients are contacted within the next two weeks to arrange new appointments.
“University Hospital Kerry (UHK) has implemented a recovery plan to address the cancellations and will reach out to patients in due course to reschedule their appointments.”
URGENT FLU INFECTIONS WARNING
Healthcare settings are urging people who are currently ill or feeling like they are suffering from a head cold to stay away from hospitals to protect vulnerable and sick patients.
They also urge the public to work together to combat the spread of respiratory illness by staying home if they are experiencing any symptoms.
They encourage people experiencing any flu symptoms to seek treatment from the local pharmacy, their GP and GP Out of Hours.
People who have non-life-threatening conditions such as fractures and burns are asked to use the injury units.
The HSE kindly asked the people to cooperate with the health staff and follow the restrictions put in place due to flu and other circulating infections.
Many hospitals have enforced mandatory mask-wearing at emergency departments, including Donegal, Sligo, Mayo, Limerick, Cork, Kerry and Galway.
They also encourage visitors and patients to continue to practice infection prevention measures such as handwashing and covering coughs and sneezes.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF FLU?
THE flu virus infects your lungs and upper airways and is more severe than a cold.
According to the HSE, symptoms come on very quickly and can include:
- A sudden high temperature of 38C or above
- Aches and pains
- Feeling tired or exhausted
- A dry cough
- A sore throat
- A headache
- Difficulty sleeping
- Loss of appetite
- Diarrhoea or tummy pain
- Feeling sick and being sick
The symptoms of flu are similar for children but they can also get a pain in their ear and seem to be less active.
Cold and flu symptoms are similar but a flu appears quickly within a few hours, affects more than just your nose and throat and makes you feel exhausted and too unwell to carry on as normal.
The symptoms of a flu can also be similar with those of Covid-19, but the coronavirus is likely to have symptoms of a high temperature, a new, continuous cough and a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste.
There are some things you can do to help ease symptoms and get better more quickly.
The HSE advise getting rest and sleep, keeping warm, taking paracetamol or ibuprofen to lower your temperature and treat aches and pains and drinking plenty of water to avoid dehydration.
Cold and flu symptoms are similar, but the flu tends to be more severe.
The cold usually appears gradually, mainly affects your nose and throat and makes you feel unwell, but you can carry on as usual, such as going to work.
The flu appears quickly within a few hours, affects more than just your nose and throat and makes you feel exhausted and too unwell to carry on as usual.
However, flu and Covid-19 can be very similar. The symptoms of Covid-19 include a high temperature, a new, continuous cough and a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste.